HLA-DRB1 allele in 35 patients with alveolar echinococcosis in Gansu Province of China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 alleles and alveolar echinococcosis (AE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-five patients with AE in high prevalence areas in Gansu Province of China were tested for the HLA-DRB1 gene using the polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) technique. The results were compared with those of 104 healthy individuals.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of the HLA-DRB1 * 040x gene was 26% in the patient group, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (9.62%) with a relative risk (RR) of 4.45 (chi(2) = 13.67, P < 0.01), and an etiological fraction (EF) of 0.20. The frequency of the HLA-DRB1 * 0701 allele was significantly lower in the patient group (2.86%) as compared to the control group (13.94%; chi(2) = 6.67, P < 0.05) with a preventable fraction (PF) of 0.30. The frequencies of other DRB1 alleles were not significantly different.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Susceptibility to AE is significantly associated with the HLA-DRB1 * 040x. HLA-DRB1 * 0701 gene might confer protection against AE in humans.</p>

Kinetic Analysis of Cytokines and Immunoglobulin G Subclass in BALB/c Mice Infected with Echinococcus alveolaris / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Objective To observe the dynamic change of immune response in mice infected with Echinococcus alveolaris(AE) at difference period of time, and to explore hostalveo’s immune regulation. Methods The infection lasted and was followed up for 25 weeks. The spleen cells from BALB/c mice infected with AE stimulated with EmAg and ConA or PHA in vitro . IL-2R, IFN-?, TNF-?, IL-1 and specific IgG subclasses were determined by ELISA. NO was tested by chemical assay. Results NO level sharply rised in 16 weeks after BALB/c mice were infected with AE. The levels of IgG1 and IgG3 significantly increased 8 weeks after infection, and remained elevating throughout the period of observation. IgG3 showed slight increase, IgG2a and IgG2b appeared low level following infection. The production of IL-2R and TNF? increased significantly 8 weeks of infection, while IL-2R sharply decreased in 12 weeks of infection. During the period of 2-12 weeks of infection there was an increase in IL-1 secreting. The level of IL-1 and TNF? rapidly increased since 16 weeks post infection. High level of IFN-? was detected during the period of observation, and showed a peak at 12 weeks. Conclusion Th1 is the major response in the early stage of infection,which is replaced by Th2 response in later period of infection.

Effect of Combined Pentoxifylline and Albendazole against Echinococcus multilocularis Infection in Mice / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Objective To observe the effect of pentoxifylline(PTX),albendazole(ABZ),and a combination of PTX and ABZ in mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis(E.M).Methods The first part of the experiment was to observe the in vitro effect of PTX on the cultured E.M protoscolex.In the second part,mice were infected by abdominal inoculation of E.M and divided into groups given by ABZ 50 mg/kg?d,PTX 360 mg/kg?d,PTX 180mg/kg?d,and a combined regimen ABZ 50 mg/(kg?d)+PTX 180 mg/(kg?d).Another infected group and a uninfected group served as controls which received normal saline only.100 days post-treatment,the mice were sacrificed for further observation.Indicators included wet weight of the cyst,cyst inhibition rate,level of serum cytokines TGF-? determined by ELISA,IL-2 and IL-10 determined by radio-immunoassay(RIA).Results The inhibition rate on cysts of the combined ABZ and PTX was 88%,considerably higher than 58 % of the group ABZ.The serum TGF-? and IL-10 decreased and IL-2 increased after treatment in comparison to the controls.Conclusion The PTX and ABZ combination shows better effect on E.multilocularis infection than that of single ABZ.PTX might help increase immunity of the mice.